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Executive Summary
States are leading the way toward a new energy future that
is healthier for the environment and America’s economy. Over the past decade,
states have enacted a variety of policies to encourage more efficient use of
energy, increase the use of clean renewable energy, and reduce the
environmental impact of energy use.
This report highlights state action in five areas of clean
energy policy and the benefits of those actions. We give special recognition to
a number of states that are providing clean energy leadership for America.
State clean energy policies are delivering important
benefits for America’s environment and our economy. 
States have adopted many innovative policies to promote
clean energy. Among the most significant of those policies are renewable
electricity standards, the Clean Cars Program, energy efficiency standards and
programs, energy efficiency standards for appliances, and building energy
codes.
Renewable electricity standards
Renewable electricity standards (RES) require that states
increase their use of clean renewable energy from the wind, sun, crops and
other sources. RES policies have been adopted by 25 states and the District of
Columbia. Those policies will, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists:
· Reduce global warming pollution by approximately
134 million metric tons per year by 2020 – about 2 percent of U.S. carbon
dioxide emissions in 2006 or the equivalent of taking more than 21 million cars
off the road.
· Result in approximately 55,700 megawatts of new
renewable generating capacity in 2020, representing more than 5 percent of
America’s total electricity generating capacity in 2005.
The Clean Cars Program
The Clean Cars Program sets strong limits on emissions of
smog-forming and toxic pollution from cars and light trucks, as well as
emissions of pollutants that cause global warming. In addition, the program
requires the sale of increasing numbers of advanced-technology vehicles like
hybrids. The Clean Cars Program has been adopted in 12 states and adoption is
pending in three others. The program will:
· Reduce global warming emissions from cars and
light trucks by approximately 74 million metric tons per year by 2020 – a
little over 1 percent of U.S. emissions in 2006 and the equivalent of taking
13.6 million cars off the road.
· Reduce gasoline consumption by up to 8.3 billion
gallons per year.
Energy efficiency programs and standards
States have taken a variety of approaches to tap their vast
potential for energy efficiency improvements. If every state were to achieve
the energy savings already achieved by the most effective such programs:
· The United States could reduce electricity
consumption by about 8 percent compared to business-as-usual levels in 2020.
· The United States could avert 265 million metric
tons of carbon dioxide pollution in 2020 (assuming that electricity savings
bring about proportional reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from power
plants). This amounts to approximately 4 percent of current U.S. carbon dioxide
emissions or the equivalent of taking nearly 49 million cars off the road.
· Energy savings well beyond these levels are
likely to be feasible and cost-effective. If the United States can use energy
efficiency to keep electricity consumption at current levels, the nation could
avoid as much as 530 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution annually
by 2020.
Appliance efficiency standards
State appliance efficiency standards ensure that the latest,
most energy-efficient technologies are included in the products purchased by
American families and businesses. Since 2002, 12 states have adopted energy
efficiency standards for a variety of appliances, leading the federal
government to adopt nationwide standards for some of those products. Combined,
the state and federal standards will:
· Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately
64 million metric tons – about 1 percent of total U.S. emissions in 2006 and
the equivalent of taking nearly 12 million cars off the road.
· Reduce electricity consumption by more than 84
million megawatt-hours per year, approximately 2 percent of U.S. electricity
consumption in 2005 or enough to power 7.4 million American homes.
Building energy codes
Building energy codes set energy efficiency criteria for
residential and commercial buildings, helping to prevent energy waste in
buildings. The most up-to-date residential building energy codes have been
adopted by 14 states, while the latest commercial codes have been adopted by 17
states. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, if every state adopted
current energy codes for residential and commercial structures, regularly
updated them, improved enforcement, and expanded the number of structures
covered by codes:
· The United States could reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by 50 million metric tons per year by 2020 – about 0.8 percent of
total U.S. emissions in 2006 and the equivalent of taking 9 million cars off
the road.
· Eliminate the need for 32 new 400-MW power
plants.
At least 34 states have adopted meaningful clean energy
policies in one of the five categories addressed in this report. Of those
states:
· Seven states – California, Connecticut, New
Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington – receive recognition
as “gold star” clean energy states for adopting strong policies in at
least four of these areas.
· Five states – Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine,
Pennsylvania and Vermont – are “silver star” clean energy states for
adopting strong policies in at least two areas and meaningful policies in one to
two others.
· Nine states – Arizona, Colorado, Delaware,
Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin – are
designated “rising star” clean energy states in recognition of their
strong recent actions to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable
sources of energy All states, as well as the federal government, can do
more to take advantage of America’s clean energy potential.
· Gold star states should continue to
innovate by looking for new opportunities to reduce energy use, strengthen
building codes and appliance standards, promote renewable energy, and lower
global warming emissions from cars. Gold states must also work to ensure that
their ambitious goals for clean energy development are actually met.
· Silver star and rising star states should
adopt the full complement of clean energy policies described in this report and
strengthen the policies they already have on the books.
· Other states should follow the example of
the clean energy leaders highlighted in this report and adopt strong clean
energy policies in each of these five areas.
· The federal government should adopt
nationwide clean energy policies that build off of the leadership and example
set by the states. Those policies should include:
· Increasing federal fuel economy standards to 40
miles per gallon by 2018, achieving energy savings and global warming pollution
reductions surpassing those of the Clean Cars Program.
· Adopting a federal renewable electricity
standard that requires 25 percent of the nation’s electricity to come from
renewable sources by 2025.
· Expanding and extending federal tax credits for
energy efficient vehicles, buildings and appliances.
· Adopting new federal appliance efficiency
standards and improving the process for adopting standards to maximize
cost-effective energy savings.
· Encouraging and supporting the development of
stronger residential and commercial building energy codes.
· Increasing federal investment in clean energy research and development.
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